Dr. John Hilinski, MD

Training and board certification

Source for all rows: source

• Board certification: "American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (2005)" and "American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (2002)."
• Owner and Medical Director of The Hilinski Ambulatory Surgery Center since 2010; staff surgeon at Scripps Mercy Hospital since 2014.
• Clinical Instructor in Surgery at UCSD Medical Center and the VA Medical Center, La Jolla (2002-2010).
• Reviewer in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery for the Medical Board of California (2010 to present).
• Member, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The Rhinoplasty Society and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
• In private practice since 2005.

Eyelid surgery work

• Upper blepharoplasty. The incision sits in the natural upper lid crease. The page lists removal of excess skin and fat pockets, crease definition, correction of asymmetry and improvement of peripheral vision. It is usually done under local anesthesia with sedation as an outpatient procedure (eyelid surgery).
• Lower blepharoplasty. Dr. Hilinski uses a subciliary incision below the lash line or a transconjunctival incision inside the lid, depending on anatomy. Fat is reduced or repositioned, and the page lists tear trough correction and treatment of exposed sclera from lid laxity. Surgery takes one to two hours. He regularly combines CO2 laser treatment with eyelid surgery.
• Ptosis repair. Through a hidden incision in the upper lid crease, the levator muscle and aponeurosis are shortened or tightened to raise the lid (upper eyelid lift ptosis repair).
• Asian double eyelid surgery. An incisional method for thicker lids with excess skin or fat, and a non-incisional suture method for thinner lids (Asian eyelid surgery).
• Brow lift. The endoscopic brow lift is the technique used most often; temporal, hairline and coronal brow lifts are also offered. Surgery takes two to three hours (brow lift).
• Separate pages cover male eyelid surgery and excess eyelid skin (male eyelid surgery).

Galleries: the blepharoplasty gallery links 66 before-and-after case pages (source); the brow lift gallery has 6 cases (source).

Other procedures

The site offers rhinoplasty including revision and ethnic rhinoplasty, otoplasty and earlobe repair, facelift, mid-facelift, neck lift, lip lift, chin implants, fat transfer, facial and skin cancer reconstruction, scar revision, and non-surgical treatments including Botox, fillers, Sculptra and laser resurfacing (source).

Insurance and cost

• When excess upper lid skin blocks peripheral vision, the operation "may qualify as a functional blepharoplasty and may be covered in part by insurance" (eyelid surgery).
• Ptosis repair: "many insurance plans will cover ptosis repair if it is medically necessary" (ptosis repair).
• No prices are published. Cost depends on which lids are treated, complexity, anesthesia and facility fees; an estimate follows the consultation. Financing through CareCredit and PatientFi (financing).
• Brow lift cost depends on technique, anesthesia and facility fees, with a personalized quote at consultation.

Recovery

• About 10 to 14 days before returning to normal social activities.
• Days 1-3: swelling, bruising and mild tightness; cold compresses and head elevation.
• Day 7: sutures typically removed; most patients comfortable in public with light makeup.
• Days 7-14: many patients return to desk work and light activity.
• Weeks 3-4: most visible bruising and swelling resolved.
• Months 3-6: final results fully visible.
• Strenuous activity, heavy lifting and contact lenses avoided during early recovery.